Chapter Nine- Severing Family Ties
Elisa dumped the tarp with Chavez's remains in the dumpster on her way to dinner Sunday, making sure to smudge her prints on the tarp. Tomorrow was the full moon and she felt anxious for that night so she could have all night to attack, kill, and eat. But, for now, she would enjoy a pleasurable dinner with her family. At least, they don't have a problem with my being a werewolf.
Elisa chewed and swallowed the vegetables with effort when her impulse was to spit it out. She had become accustomed to eating raw bloody meat that eating anything else was repulsive. She was a strict carnivore now, however, she forced down her food to spare her mother's feelings.
Peter Maza cleared his throat halfway through the meal. "Elisa, I heard about Matt. I'm sorry you lost your partner. He was a good cop."
"Thanks, Dad. He was a good cop and a great friend. I just can't believe he's gone."
"Any idea of what happened?"
"No clear ones. There were teeth and claw marks, so autopsy reports list animal attack as the cause of death."
Peter nodded thoughtfully. It was obviously an animal attack. He doubted Elisa did it as it hadn't been a full moon night. She only changes during the full moon and speaking of the full moon…what about those deaths last month?
"Elisa, any leads on those murders last month?"
Elisa shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "No. None, but then I haven't been assigned to the case. I could check on that, though."
Diane frowned at her daughter. "Dear, are you all right?" she asked her.
"Yeah, I'm just restless. Tomorrow is the full moon and I found I get restless when it's close."
Peter studied Elisa's tense form and thought about last month's murders. Twenty-four people had been killed in three nights- full moon nights. Two of the bodies showed signs that they had been feasted upon; something animals would do when killing only they would eat every prey they killed and only two out of twenty-four bore these marks.
"Elisa, tell me the truth: Did you kill all those people last month?" Peter asked slowly, ignoring the shocked expressions on his wife and daughter's faces.
"I…might have," she said slowly. "The problem is I'm not in control when I change. I see myself changing and then I black out since the next thing I remember is waking up on my living room floor."
Beth shook her head. "Elisa, you couldn't have blacked out. It's more likely you know what happened but was unable to stop it."
"I think you're right. I now recall seeing people dying and could see my claws slashing at them, but unable to stop myself."
"If you did kill on some level, you may want to confess to the homicide investigators, but make it clear that you weren't in control," Peter said. Beth and Diane nodded in agreement.
"I know you're right, Dad," Elisa said. "I'll confess once the full moon nights are over."
Peter smiled. "That's my girl. You will need to keep yourself from being able to get out so that no one else will die."
Elisa growled angrily as she stalked about her apartment after arriving home from dinner. She had shifted forms and paced back and forth, her tail swishing in anger. She couldn't believe her family wanted her to confess her murders to the police! Why should I? Animals don't confess to killing their prey and I'm technically an animal when I'm killing only I decide who I kill every now and then; other times I don't care who I kill. Speaking of deciding, I think I need to eliminate my family since I have no intention of going to the police. I'll do it tomorrow night so they'll think I'm not really in control, even though I am.
The following sunset, Elisa entered her parents' apartment building and crossed into the elevator. She pushed the fourth floor button and she saw the sun vanish as the doors closed. When the doors opened again, Elisa had taken her wolf form and she exited the car, ready to kill. She knew Beth stayed with their parents when on break from school, so the only family member not present was Derek. That's fine. I can go to the Labyrinth later and kill him too along with anyone else there.
She flexed her paws for a moment before sprinting down the hall, aiming for the door at the end. She increased her speed and rammed her shoulder into the door as hard as she could. The door bent at the impact site, but didn't break. She heard her mother's voice, followed by her father's and the click of a gun being cocked.
Elisa poised herself beside the door and waited to see what would happen. The door opened and Peter stepped out, gun barrel pointed upward. He stared down the hall, then left, and finally right, looking down into Elisa's glowing eyes. The she-wolf lunged, her paw knocking away the gun before her teeth bit down on his throat and tore the jugular apart. He fell backwards to show Diane and Beth, the former screaming in horror. Elisa snarled as she leaped over her father and charged toward the women. She brought her mother down quickly by slashing at her throat before pouncing on Beth who had turned to run. She bit down hard on the neck, killing her instantly.
She growled in satisfaction and was prepared to rend and tear but the sounds of concerned neighbors prompted her to move to the door and growl threateningly, causing doors to close. I don't have much time. Someone's likely calling the police. She ducked back inside and quickly ran her claws over the bodies of her mother and sister before sliding open the window that led to the fire escape, bounded down to the ground, and ran off into the darkness. She started home, sticking to alleys. She ended up killing three more people on the way, taking time to rip them up and even eat one. She got back to her home, feeling a bit better.
She had never killed in an apartment building before and now she saw why: Too many people to call the police thus giving her no time to rip and tear her prey or even eat them. The anger of not being able to do so was abated by killing those random people and doing to them what she couldn't do to her family; indeed it was three people to make up for her family.
I'll get Derek tomorrow night, she thought, hearing police sirens in the near and far distance. There are too many officers out tonight. Possibly because of all my victims last month. They're on the lookout for a vicious animal. I'll need to proceed cautiously. I'll travel to my target places close to sunset so I can kill and leave quickly. I'll take my time in the Labyrinth since it's less likely someone will call the police.
She saw winged shapes glide past overhead and her tail swished happily: Her friends. Surely, they wouldn't insist she turn herself in. If she convinced them that she had no control during the full moon, they'll likely believe her and not badger her about confessing to the police. Yes, they'll accept that I do what werewolves do, even though I can't control it.